It is reported that classifying data on offenses, including unauthorized abandonment of a unit (Article 407 and Article 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), is a “forced and legal” step, which is aimed at:
- protection of national security;
- preventing the use of this data against Ukraine;
- maintaining stability and confidence in defense forces during war;
- countering information and psychological operations of the aggressor country of the Russian Federation.
“The dissemination of even generalized statistical data on the number of such offenses can cause significant harm to defense activities and information security, in particular by creating a favorable environment for manipulation and hostile propaganda,” the UCP said in a statement.
It clarified that the following information is limited:
- generalized statistical data on criminal offenses provided for in Section XIX of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (war crimes or criminal offenses against the established procedure for military service (Articles 401–435-1);
- information about persons who committed such offenses;
- information related to these criminal offenses contained in the documents of the prosecutor's office.
The UCP emphasized that these restrictions apply only during the period of martial law in Ukraine.
Context
On November 28, 2024, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky signed a law on voluntary return to service those who went to SOCH for the first time or deserted. To avoid criminal penalties, military personnel who took such a step had to return to service before January 1, 2025. Then parliament several more times extended the period when military personnel could return to duty.
How reported On August 5, 2025, during the period of validity of this law, more than 29 thousand military personnel returned to service under the SOC. At the same time, according to BBC News Ukraine estimates, the number of military personnel going to the SOCh is at least twice as large as the number returning.
